Cornwall

Cubert wildlife walk, Cornwall

Enjoy a circular walk along the coastline just south of Newquay for far-reaching sea views. Wild flowers are abundant in the spring and early summer. Don't forget to bring along your binoculars to spot migrant birds in the fields in winter.

Near to

Holywell

Start point

West Pentire car park, grid ref: SW775605

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 6 (km: 9.6)

Duration2 hours

Dog friendly***

*Moderate terrain along natural, uneven footpaths. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Route includes some slopes and steps. For further details, please see Access section.
***Please keep dogs under close control when livestock are grazing. For more information, see Facilities section.

Cliff edges

Beware of cliff edges along this coastal walk and keep dogs on leads at all times.

Address
Near Newquay, Cornwall
Directions via Google Maps
By train
Newquay station, 5.5 miles (9km).
On foot
On the South West Coast Path.
By bus
On the Newquay-Cubert and Newquay-Crantock-Cubert bus routes, alight ½ mile (1km) away from start of walk.
Cycling
A National Cycle Network route goes around Newquay.
Visit Sustrans website
By road
Just south of Newquay off A3075; follow minor road through Crantock to West Pentire and park in car park at end of road (not National Trust).
Total stages: 7
Total stages: 7
Start point
West Pentire car park, grid ref: SW775605
Stage 1
Start at the car park in West Pentire and walk north on a path towards the coast, with wildflower fields on your left in summer.
Wildflowers
Some of the fields in West Pentire have stunning arable flora, which are best seen in June and July when the poppies and corn marigolds are in flower. Also see Venus looking-glass, shepherds needle, small-flowered catchfly and weasels snout, which are rare due to modern farming methods. Wander into the fields if you wish, but be careful not to crush the crops or wildflowers. Also look for pyramidal orchid and carline thistle in the lime-rich grasslands.
Pyramidal orchid in bloom at Holywell, Cornwall | © National Trust/Katherine Alker
Stage 2
Take the left at the junction of two paths, then the next right along the edge of a field. At the end of this field take the left-hand path, then the right one, so that you are exactly on the edge of the coast, following it around to the left, away from West Pentire.
Stage 3
Keep following the coastal path, also looking out for buzzards inland. The shortcut back to the car park is a left-hand path at the point of Porth Joke (sands), which goes back across the fields.
Birds
Look out for fulmar birds that look similar to gulls, but are actually from the petrel family. They nest around this area of the coast, laying a single white egg on bare rock or lined shallow depressions. Seed-eating birds such as corn bunting, grey partridge and winter visitors such as snow and lapland buntings are found in the West Pentire fields. A thin crop of barley is sown in some of the fields so the birds have a seed source in the winter. There's a good chance of seeing whimbrel, skylark and wheatear on the Kelseys.
Stage 4
Pass the Iron Age fort on your right continuing on the coast path which loops around the sand dunes of Holywell beach.
A female silver-studded blue butterfly at Holywell, Cornwall | © National Trust Images/Matthew Oates
Stage 5
The path then heads directly inland off the beach. Follow it straight across the junction, then downhill to another four-way junction, taking the left-hand path.
Stage 6
Carry straight on, turning left at the track, then further on keeping right past the disused quarry.
Stage 7
Follow the fork forward then take the next small path on the left. Follow the track uphill past another disused quarry on the right and along the fields back to the car park.
End point
West Pentire car park, grid ref: SW775605
Trail map
Map for Cubert wildlife walking trail, Holywell, Cornwall | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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